The Most Beautiful Train Stations Across the Globe

In an era of direct flights and last-minute bookings, the
'getting there' part of your holiday can often feel like an
inconvenient addition to an otherwise relaxing trip, rather than an
exciting part of the adventure in its own right. However, if you're
looking to slow things down (which, as connoisseurs of slow
travel, we highly recommend), to enjoy the journey as much as
the destination and take the time to actually connect with local
places and cultures, then train
travel is the way to go. If you need some convincing, check out
some of the most beautiful and iconic train stations around the
world that are well worth a pitstop on your voyage.

1. Grand Central Terminal, New York, USA

Snagging the title for the world's largest station with a
jaw-dropping 44 platforms set across two levels (and even a
full-sized tennis court and a ski slope!) is the iconic Grand
Central Terminal in New
York. Situated in Midtown Manhattan, the building was completed
in 1913 and draws in a whopping 26 million visitors annually,
making it the sixth most visited tourist attraction in the world.
From its gold-barred ticket window and Tiffany clock to its
whispering galleries and famous Oyster Bar, the station oozes style
and sophistication.

2. Liege-Guillemins, Liège, Belgium

Located just outside of Brussels in Liège, Belgium's
third-largest city, is Liege-Guillemins, a modern masterpiece of a
station designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. Made of steel,
glass and white concrete, and featuring a monumental arch that
reaches over 30 metres tall, the station holds its own alongside
the Victorian and Edwardian designs of many of the world's
best-loved stations. While there are only five platforms,
Liege-Guillemins is one of the most important hubs in Belgium
because all of the tracks are compatible with high speed trains,
making it a gateway for travel across Europe.

3. Estacion de Atocha, Madrid, Spain

Reinventing train stations as we know them, the Atocha station
in Madrid
is home to a lush indoor tropical garden with over 2,000 tropical
plants, 260 different exotic species and even a turtle pond.
Originally built in 1851, then completely replaced after a
devastating fire in 1892, and, finally, extended further with a
more modern expansion in the 1980s, the station is a rich tapestry
of history and architecture. Though trains now leave from the new
building, the original station structure remains a vibrant hub with
shops, cafes and a nightclub.

4. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai, India

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in
Mumbai is a fabulous fusion of Western and Eastern styles. From
its turrets and spires, to its domes and gables, this palatial
structure took ten years to build and is now the busiest station in
the whole of India
with an impressive three million commuters passing through every
day. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus in honour of Queen
Victoria, the station was designed as a symbol of the then Bombay's
prestige within the British Empire, taking inspiration from both
London's
St. Pancras station as well as Indian palace architecture.

5. Moscow Metro, Moscow, Russia

Burrow beneath Moscow
and you're met with a treasure trove of architectural delights.
Soviet mosaic decorations, chandelier-lined halls, colourful
paintings and ornate statues are just some of the things you can
expect to come across in this magnificent metro. Take a tour of
some of the most beautiful stations (many can be found on the brown
Circle Line which, legend has it, came about from Stalin leaving a
coffee cup stain on his metro map plans) and only come up for air
once you've had your fill of its artistry. While we're on the topic
of metros, Uzbekistan's
Tashkent Metro is another stunning example of subterranean
architecture; the decorations - crafted by local artists and made
with everything from glass and ceramic to alabaster and plastic -
are the cherry on top of an incredibly intricate, communist-era
cake.

6. Sirkeci Station, Istanbul, Turkey

Built in 1890 as the terminus for the Orient-Express journey
from Paris,
Sirkeci Station in Istanbul
is a charming structure of red brick and stained glass windows.
Board the elegant Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris Gare de
l'Est and embark on this highbrow historical tour through some of
Europe's greatest cities. Although train travel embraces a slower
style of travelling, you'll have to move quickly to nab berths on
this iconic train as cabins are already being booked up for
2020.

About Ella Mawson

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